Eyeborgs

source: Eyeborgs

I enjoyed this... This was fun. Possible future in which an advanced AI has control of remote cameras that are now mobile and can move and act. And act they do. They chop, slice and dice anyone perceived as a threat. I enjoyed the ride and plan to get this if it's on DVD. I did have a plot point that bugged me. If the system was so intelligent it could fake the president why didn't it just announce itself and be done with? If the AI wants to be in total control of America why didn't it just seize control? Other then that minor nitpick I loved this.

In the near future, terrorist attacks on American soil have resulted in the United States taking significant steps to increase homeland security. Mainly, a couple of things have happened. First, all the surveillance cameras you see hanging around - everywhere from banks to the local convenience store - have been connected into one network - the Optical Defense Intelligence Network (ODIN). Second, a mobile robotic system of cameras have been introduced, called "Eyeborgs". Naturally these devices are there to protect our freedom, not take it away. However, it appears something has gone terribly wrong... In the opening, young purple-haired punk rocker Lucas "Luke" Eberl (as Jarett Hewes) performs with his "Painful Daze" band. There is an attempt to assassinate Mr. Eberl, but he survives when handsome ODIN agent Adrian Paul (as Robert "Gunner" Reynolds) and his Eyeborgs make the scene. Pushy blonde TV reporter Megan Blake (as Barbara Hawkins) smells a story... Curiously, Eberl is the nephew of the President of the United States. Even more curious, Mr. Paul's subsequent investigation of the killer reveals something disturbing about our protective Eyeborgs. Director Richard Clabaugh and his crew keep the action and intrigue levels high. Visual effects supervisor Christopher Howell Watson and his team received award notices for their animated creatures, which are designed and inserted well. Performances are fine, with Eberl taking the best role to the top. "Eyeborgs" would rank a couple notches higher if not for the shaky cameras. Some of the wobbling looks natural, but there are many times when the camera is shaking uncontrollably. It's not too bad during the erotic car wash, though... ****** Eyeborgs (4/29/09) Richard Clabaugh ~ Adrian Paul, Luke Eberl, Megan Blake, Danny Trejo

When I saw this movie on the Syfy channel, I couldn't get into it and was surfing around to other channels, this movie was cheesy where there should had been a tension and suspense, but I came back toward the end to see what might happen, as this is so bad it was good and I wanted to see where this movie would end. And I was surprised, it was if there was another movie that had come on. The 3rd act of Eyeborgs presents a thought provoking concept and has good action. It could had been done better with better actors and sharper writing, yet so surprising that I give it a bit higher rating to recommend it. So remake this movie with a decent budget and script, it's a great story.

Slick Looking Conspiratorial B-Movie with a Multitude of CGI Surveillance Robots that are the Government's New Tool in a "Big-Brother is Watching" Scenario that is Beginning to Find its Place in the Cinema of the New Millennium. Rightfully So and Not a Minute too Soon. With Cameras Everywhere but in Your Corn Flakes (that's next) in the Real World it is a Ripe and Relevant Scenario Ready for Debate. Freedom vs Security. Cue Benjamin Franklin. This is a Scary and Creepy Film that At Times can be too Good Looking for its Own Good. Some of the Ominous Observing Robots can Look Cute and Cuddly and Maybe that's the Point. We are Your Friend. Just Like the Government is Your Friend and Bill O'Reilly is "Definitely looking out for You". The Excellent Plot and its Twists are Above Average for its Type. It Packs a Wallop and it Tries Really Hard to Make its Points when the Point is, this Should be an Obvious Outcome of what's Taking Place in the Real World of Today. NSA Data Collecting and Cameras Up the Yin-Yang Cannot Lead to Anything Great. Of Course, the Images are Sent Back to a Centralized Network (Skynet?) and Manipulated to Make it look like anything They want and that's the Flaw in the Argument Against the Peeking Patrols of Not Only Eyes in the Sky but Eyes Everywhere. This is a Fine B-Movie that Thinks and Entertains with Some Gusto from a Talented Director. The Only Gripe is that Some of its Sting is Stifled by the Tone that Sometimes Can Make it All Seem too Much Sci-Fi and Not Enough Paranoid Conspiracy Thriller.

In the near future, fear of terrorism has escalated to the point where privacy has become a thing of the past. Everyone is under constant surveillance from mobile robotic cameras known as "Eyeborgs." Federal agent Robert J. 'Gunner' Reynolds (an excellent performance by Adrian Paul) uncovers a sinister conspiracy plot concerning the Eyeborgs while investigating a series of bizarre deaths. Director Richard Clabaugh, who also co-wrote the clever script with Fran Clabaugh, relates the enthralling and entertaining story at a brisk pace, does a sound job of crafting a nicely paranoid atmosphere, and stages the exciting action set pieces with real aplomb. Moreover, the provocative central theme about the inherent danger of mankind's over-reliance on technology and how if said technology gets out of hand it could wind up controlling us instead of the other way gives this film extra substance. The solid acting by the capable cast rates as another major asset, with especially praiseworthy work by Megan Blake as pesky reporter Barbara Hawkins, Luke Eberl as brash punk Jarrett Hewes, John S. Rushton as Reynolds' skeptical partner Agent Bradley, and Juan-Carlos Guzman as easygoing cameraman Erik. Danny Trejo has a small, but cool role as irascible guitar maker G-Man. The CGI robots look pretty funky (and they make these mean'n'snarly growling noises!). Kenneth Wilson II's glossy widescreen cinematography provides a pleasing polished look. A neat little B-flick.

In a near-future USA its citizens are under perpetual surveillance from Eyeborgs, mobile robotic cameras, used by the police to stop crime happening and to convict any criminals they see. A big hairy ranting paranoid man is arrested when tries to shoot Jarrett Hewes (Luke Eberl) the nephew of the American President as he is performing with his punk band. Agents from the Department of Homeland Security 'Gunner' Reynolds (Adrian Paul) and his partner Bradley investigate to see if there is any other threat. During the investigation Gunner become suspicious of the Eyeborgs and his suspicions are confirmed by evidence from TV reporter Barbara Hawkins (Megan Blake). This film covers a lot of old ground but it is a pretty good take on the ideas that make up it main story. While 'The Matrix' and 'The Terminator' had humans at war with the machines this film suggests that their route to dominance and control may be through taking advantage of suspicion and fear to encourage humans to surrender their freedom to the machines. The design of the robots was okay especially the little two-legged ones that almost look like toys but they turn out to have more in common with a certain silver ball from 'Phantasm'. This is film is worth a watch, not too deep and not too dumb. Rating 7/10

It is so bad that it is actually fanny. All trash movie admirers will love it. I had the impression that the movie was shot in a week and they did not have money to repeat some scenes. Scriptwriters were writing as they were shooting. The dialogs are very bad! The boy, his girlfriend, terrorist and a TV reporter are the result of the extremely bad casting. The terrorist is not convincing, the girlfriend is repulsive, the reporter is pathetic, the violet-haired boy is a complete nonsense. Why they had to kill 20 people to save him from the "violent" 3-d scanning by machines? Apart from Danny Trejo, the best acting in this movie is done by eyeborgs.

Great science fiction story and a scenario that could actually become a reality. Movie starts out a bit rough with kiddy's attempt at music which is noise to delicate ears, but, the saving grace is the torture is short lived. Just mute until the action starts which happens rather quickly. If you're into good science fiction this is it. I found this movie better than Robocop. The story has mystery to it that I doubt any movie goer seen coming. The special effects and acting was up there so as not to mark down for. Just open your mind and go with it and you'll be entertained. Nice that this movie doesn't have another long car chase that so many movies have these days that just bores me to tears. After viewing this movie you may be looking for cameras the rest of your life. You have been warned!

When I saw this I thought it was going to be a cheesy, low budget, poor acting movie. After all it had Adrian Paul in it so what else could it be. Well it is what I thought. BUT somewhere along the line it developed some interesting subplots and some greater social conscience. The movie wasn't able to maximize its potential but it still makes you think. So let's break movie down: ACTING. It's what you expect. Little or unknown actors with limited ability. But the acting is no worse than 90% of what we see on television. CONTINUITY. The movie flows OK but there's so many unexplained bits and pieces that should have been linked or explained. The singer from the band and the girlfriend are killed in the car making the President's uncle the new lead singer. No connection to the movie's plot. Why sneak explosives into the building when you've already loaded tanks of explosive material in the basement with timers on them. Why have a running gun fight when the purpose is to explode the building? Just do it. How did the plot with guitar man mesh with the explosives in the basement? It's like two plots to kill the President. And why would the guitar man want to kill the President as the Vice-President would take over and it's clear the latter is more the hawk of the two? Plot line. The plot line is confusing at times. We never figure out who is controlling the eyeborgs (likely the VP) or if they are acting independently (AI). Sometimes it seems like it has to be the latter but the basic plot line only seems to benefit the VP. GRAPHICS. Overall not too bad. The eyeborgs were fairly well done. The larger units looked a little too computer generated at times but other units, such as the soldier units, looked good. So why give it a 6 instead of a 2 or 3? I found the movie unsettling as it is just a slightly more extreme example of what exists today. Our survelliance cameras might not be linked but they are everywhere. I read somewhere that in large cities, if you are walking on a city street, that you will likely be captured on tape by at least 14 cameras on average. Even if that stat is wrong and it's only 2-3, that's still a lot of times to have someone record you. In the movie people could never get away from the cameras. Even low end criminals selling guns, dope or plotting to kill the President couldn't keep them out of their houses. Also found it unsettling how they relied on robots for all evidence such as film footage, blood samples and other crime scene investigations. Sort of a Magnus Robot Fighter environment. No one thinks for themselves. Finally it has the feeling and the closing that would work well as a pilot for a TV show. It's worth a rental or purchase in the low cost movie bin.